Uttarakhand - Climate
The climate of Himalayan region in general and of Uttarakhand in particular depends on the summer monsoon currents and associated cyclone system, westerly disturbances and local orographic and conventional thunderstorms that occur in the afternoon during pre and post monsoons. In Uttarakhand there exists a large variation of relief from 200 m. in south and more than 7,500 m. in the north. It has been observed that for every 1,000 m. ascend, there is a decrease in temperature by 6°C. The slope aspect also play an important role in determining the climate, as north facing slopes are much cooler and damp as compared to south facing slope due to insolation affect.
The state has two distinct climatic regions viz. the predominantly mountainous and the plain region. The climatic condition of the plains is very similar to its counterpart in the Gangetic plain i.e. tropical. Summer is scorching with temperature reaching above 40°C added with high humidity. Winter is chilly with temperatures dropping below 5°C.
The Himalayan region has Alpine conditions characterized by cold winters with snowfall for quite a long time, good rainfall in the monsoon and mild summers. In the Himalayan region, climate varies with altitude. At about 2,000 meters, the average summer temperature is 18°C; at 4,500 meters, it is rarely above 0°C. In the valleys, summer temperature varies between 32°C and 38°C. The eastern Himalayas receive 1000 to 2000 mm precipitation, which is more than received in Western Himalayas and flash floods are common.
Uttarakhand mainly has two different climatic regions, namely, the hilly terrain and the smaller plain region. So, the weather is also quite varied, depending on the particular place.
Summers in the plain region of Uttarakhand have similar climate as other surrounding plain regions of different states i.e. the maximum temperature can cross the 40°C mark and there can be considerable humidity. Warm temperate conditions prevail in the Middle Himalayan valleys with temperature around 25°C making it an idle getaway for people of the plains to beat the heat. However, in the higher areas of middle Himalayas the temperature is around 15 to 18°C, still pleasant. The season extends from April to June.
The Climate of Uttarakhand during summers in the plain region can be chilly with temperatures going below 5°C mark. The winters in the middle Himalayan valleys are very cold and in the higher areas the temperature can drop below the freezing point. The Himalayan peaks remain snow capped throughout the year and many places receive regular snowfall. Throughout the state the temperature ranges from sub-zero to 15°C and the season lasts from November to February.
The monsoon is the most pleasant season when temperature differs from 15 to 25°C at most places which reigns from July to September. The state receives 90% of its annual rainfall in this season. The eastern parts of Himalayas are subjected to heavier rainfalls when westerns are relatively drier.
State is rich in water resources with many perennial rivers originating in the state. Ganges, Yamuna, Ramganga, Sharda and Kali are major river with many tributaries. Snow melt runoff has a major contribution in states water resources.
The winter months lay vast and expansive snow-carpets as the slopes, which turn into playgrounds for adventurous snow-revelers to ski amongst the most beautiful of surroundings. Come spring and the land begins to ooze of nascent life with frozen springs making way for the singsong of unsullied streams, waiting buds coming to full blossom creating an outburst of million hues with as many colorful butterflies and insects joining in the chorus.
The bright sunshine hours are decreasing due to the increasing cloud cover. Increasing cloud cover is also responsible for the night warming and day cooling as it reflects the solar radiation back to space during the day and retards the long-wave radiation from the earth, which does not allow night cooling.
Temperature records of the region reveal a notable warming trend and this warming was more prominent during the last decade. The enhanced entropy of atmospheric system will result into stormier and unpredictable weather conditions. The disturbed climo-balance of the state which is quite visible in form of more frequent climatological hazards hitting the state day by day. Due to enhanced energy levels, the atmospheric processes may bring rapid and catastrophic changes and the climatological disasters like cloudburst, landslides, floods etc., may visits the region more frequently and intensely.
The glaciers of Uttarakhand are retreating at different rates in different time periods. The Pindari glacier has retreated about 2,840 m since the last 121 years at an average rate of 23.47 m/year. It was retreated at the rate of 26.22 m/year between 1845 and 1906, 20 m/year between 1906 and 1958 and 25 m/year between 1958 and 1966. The Thelu and Raktvarna glaciers have retreated 1,248 m (at the rate of 30.66 m/year) and 1,585 m (at the rate of 37.73 m/year) during the 42 years (1962–2004).
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